Coaching Notes: Belichick, Packers, Garrett
Ben Volin of The Boston Globe dives into the tape of the Patriots 13-9 victory over the Cowboys on Sunday to explore the ways New England shutdown one of the most prolific offenses in football. Pats head coach Bill Belichick has long been one of the best defensive minds in football and Dallas tight end Jason Witten explained how Sunday’s scheme caused problems,“Even though it’s cover 0, it’s really not. When you think cover 0, you think all-out pressure and man-to-man [coverage]. But they’re dropping out to play whole help, so they have help coming inside. As receivers and quarterbacks, it puts a lot of pressure on you.”
The Pats defense may be one of the most aggressive units in the NFL, but that aggressiveness does not come with the greater risk we have come to expect. Volin notes that while New England has the tenth highest blitz rate in the league, their creative defensive scheme, which includes intricate decoys, limits an opponents ability to take advantage.
- The Packers have one of the younger assistant coaching staffs in football under rookie head coach Matt LaFleur, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Tom Silverstein and LeRoy Butler of the Milwaukee Sentinel debate whether that could explain the inability for such a talented unit to really dominate opponents and get shutdown by the 49ers this past week. Silverstein opines that a more experienced staff might be better equipped to scheme their team advantages.
- Cowboys owner Jerry Jones once again offered strong public comments surrounding Dallas head coach Jason Garrett. This morning on Good Morning Football, Jones was asked about Garrett and responded, “I don’t have to win the Super Bowl in business every year. I can come in 6th and have a hell of a year. But in this business, you gotta come in first. I want Jason to get it done.” While the statement does not say anything definitively, it does suggest a certain level of ultimatum for his head coach: win the Super Bowl or else.
Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones On Jason Garrett’s Job Security
For most of the season, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has stood behind head coach Jason Garrett. That’s not necessarily the case today, however, following a 13-9 loss to the Patriots.
[RELATED: Giants Eyeing Jason Garrett As HC?]
On Tuesday morning, Jones told 105.3 The Fan that he is beyond “disappointed” with the club at this moment. Furthermore, he indicated that Garrett’s job is on the line, though he said that there would not be an in-season change.
“Disappointed is not the word. There’s no question that we were given an opportunity, there were things we could have taken advantage of,” Jones said.
Jones lit up Garrett after Sunday’s game and doesn’t seem to have cooled down much in the last 48 hours. Meanwhile, Garrett has five games left to restore the confidence of his boss.
With a 6-5 record, the Cowboys are atop the NFC East, with an edge over the second place Eagles (5-6). According to FiveThirtyEight, the Cowboys have a 65% shot of reaching the playoffs.
Garrett and the Cowboys will finish out the regular season against the Bills, Bears, Rams, Eagles, and Redskins.
Jerry Jones Critical Of Cowboys’ Coaching Staff
NOV. 25: The Cowboys will not fire Garrett or make any immediate changes to his staff, per Werder (via Twitter). Werder reminds us that OL coach Paul Alexander was fired during the team’s bye week in 2018, so there is precedent there, but Garrett, O’Quinn, et al. are safe for now (Twitter link).
NOV. 24: Earlier on Sunday, a report emerged suggesting current Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett could be the next head coach of the rival Giants. New York has struggled under Pat Shurmur and there appeared to be mutual interest between Garrett and the Giants. One thing that remains unclear is whether Garrett will be available. While he has been on the hot seat for much of the season, it would not be the first time public perceptions of Garrett’s job status were incorrect.
At least publicly, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has remained supportive and confident in Garrett — until now. After Dallas’ 13-9 loss to the Patriots, Jones was very critical of his coaching staff, according to Mike Fisher of 105.3 The Fan. The most critical commentary focused on the special teams unit, which had a number of crucial mishaps against New England. That does fall under Garrett’s supervision, but likely has larger ramifications for special teams ccoordinator Keith O’Quinn.
With that said, some of Jones’ criticism seemed like a more direct indictment of Garrett as well. “When we run up against an opponent that gets it together, we have a tough time coordinating how we put our offense and defense out there and have them playing [well] at the same time,” Jones said. The owner went as far to say that they had been “outcoached” and lacked “coaching fundamentals.”
Fisher had speculated earlier in the day that the rumors connecting Garrett to the Giants could have been an attempt from Garrett’s side to pressure Jones into an extension. However, Fisher opined for Sports Illustrated that could backfire and cause the owner to lose patience with Garrett even quicker than he would otherwise. The shift in Jones’ public discussion lends credence to that argument.
Indeed, Ed Werder of ESPN.com calls Jones’ comments with respect to Garrett his most damning review of Garrett’s work (Twitter link). Werder also speculates (via Twitter) that the Cowboys may have to win all of their remaining regular season games and at least two playoff games for Jones to retain Garrett.
Giants Eyeing Jason Garrett As HC?
The Giants are not planning to fire head coach Pat Shurmur before the end of the 2019 season, but all options remain on the table after the season is over. And while the club may be inclined to keep Shurmur if for no other reason than to maintain continuity for young QB Daniel Jones, that could change should Cowboys HC Jason Garrett become available.
Garrett has been on the hot seat several times during his Cowboys tenure, but he has still managed to hold onto his post since he was given the permanent HC title in 2011. However, his contract is up at the end of the 2019 campaign, and owner Jerry Jones has not offered a ringing endorsement of his sideline general this year. Jones is said to be fond of Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley, and even if he can’t get Riley, he may finally decide to move on from Garrett if the Cowboys do not make a deep postseason run.
And if the Cowboys do part ways with Garrett, the Giants could be there to pounce. Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network (video link) says Big Blue has emerged as a legitimate landing spot for Garrett, and the Giants would be Garrett’s top choice if he can’t stick with Dallas. Rapoport reminds us that, in 2014, when New York was deciding whether or not to move on from then-HC Tom Coughlin, the club would have fired Coughlin if it could have gotten Garrett. But Garrett signed an extension with the Cowboys, so the Giants held on to Coughlin.
For all his faults, Garrett has compiled an 85-66 mark as a head coach, including a 2-3 postseason record. Shurmur, meanwhile, is 17-42 as an HC.
Negotiation Notes: Cooper, Quarterbacks, Prescott
Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper is not worried about the fallout from his agents’ split, according to Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News. Cooper has been represented by Joel Segal and Chafie Fields, but Fields recently joined Wasserman Media Group as an executive vice president, severing his relationship with Segal. It’s unclear which agent Cooper will remain with, or if he’ll consider other options as well. With his contract set to expire after this season, changes in his representation could complicate the process for the Cowboys, who likely want to retain the wideout.
Dallas has one of the more interesting impending free agent situations in the league. The team is estimated to have over $90 MM in salary cap space this offseason without releasing any players. However, Cooper is one of the many valuable pieces set to become free agents this offseason as well.
Here are a couple other notes on contract situations around the league:
- NFL agent turned CBS Sports Writer, Joel Corry detailed the circumstances for nine quarterbacks in uncertain situations going into the offseason and beyond. This offseason may be poised to see the most turnover at the quarterback position in league history. Not only are many current starters set for free-agency, other teams have had impressive performance from younger cost-controlled players while veterans under contract have been injured.
- There has been no recent reports suggesting the Cowboys and quarterback Dak Prescott have made any progress towards a long-term extension. If Prescott needed any more leverage, he ranks at the top of Sheil Kapadia’s list of the 50 best unrestricted free agents in 2020 for The Athletic (subscription required). While doubts surrounded Prescott’s status as a franchise quarterback entering the season, the Mississippi State alum has proven himself as one of the best in the league this season.
Cowboys LB Leighton Vander Esch Out
Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch will not play this week against the Patriots and could miss substantially more time with a neck injury, according to Clarence Hill of the For Worth Star-Telegram. Vander Esch has faced medical questions surrounding his neck since his days in college. Losing Vander Esch would be a big hit to the Dallas defense.
While the injury is listed in a week to week manner, Hill notes in his story that Vander Esch is not scheduled for an MRI for another three weeks. Given the particular dangers with severe neck injuries and Vander Esch’s well-documented history of injury woes, Dallas should be especially cautious with the linebacker.
In his second NFL season, Vander Esch has lived up to his billing when healthy. After being selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Vander Esch earned a Pro Bowl selection as a rookie and has already accrued 72 tackles in just 9 games this season.
Without the Boise State alum, Dallas will likely turn to veteran linebacker Sean Lee to take over the team’s weak-side (WILL) linebacker position. Lee is far removed from his days as one of the best linebackers in football, but may be the most qualified backup in the NFL to help fill the gap.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/20/19
Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Jesper Horsted
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted from practice squad: S J.T. Hassell
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed off Colts’ practice squad: CB Deante Burton
- Placed on IR: CB Anthony Brown
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from IR: LB Andrew Van Ginkel
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Gerald Willis
NFL Workout Updates: 11/19/19
Today’s updates from the workout circuit:
Buffalo Bills
Chicago Bears
- RBs Matthew Dayes
Cincinnati Bengals
Denver Broncos
- S Corrion Ballard, DT Daryle Banfield, DE Tashawn Bower, LB Tre’ Crawford, CB Davante Davis, DL Willie Henry, S P.J. Locke, S Tray Matthews, DB Picasso Nelson, LB Gimel President, DE Wyatt Ray, S Tyree Robinson, S Kahani Smith, LB Pita Taumoepenu, NT Jay-Tee Tiuli, S Isaiah Wharton
Dallas Cowboys
- OLs Marcus Henry, Storm Norton
Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars
Kansas City Chiefs
- DE Terrence Fede, DE/OLB Nate Orchard
New England Patriots
New Orleans Saints
- LBs Curtis Akins, Devante Bond, Andrew Dowell, LB Alvin Jones
Washington Redskins
- LB Obum Gwacham, DE Eli Harold
Cowboys' Noah Brown Out For 2019
- On the subject of NFC receiver situations, Cowboys wideout Noah Brown will not play this season. Stashed on Dallas’ PUP list after a June knee surgery, Brown recently underwent another procedure, Todd Archer of ESPN.com notes. The 2017 seventh-round pick played in 21 Cowboys games between 2017-18. He is expected to be ready for the team’s offseason program.
Cowboys’ Anthony Brown Out For Season
Anthony Brown‘s fourth NFL season will end early. The fourth-year cornerback will miss the rest of this season with a triceps tear, Jason Garrett said Monday.
The Cowboys defender will undergo surgery. His contract is set to expire after this season. Brown will finish with 17 tackles and five passes defensed this season.
Brown has not played much on defense in Dallas’ past three games, seeing action on just six combined defensive snaps since Week 9. He previously battled a hamstring injury this season, one that forced him to miss the Cowboys’ first meeting with the Eagles.
A sixth-round pick out of Purdue in 2016, Brown played a more prominent role earlier this season and in previous campaigns. He served as a key nickel performer from 2016-18, starting 30 games in that span. Jourdan Lewis has been given more time in that capacity this season. Both Lewis and Chidobe Awuzie are signed beyond this season, though Byron Jones is not.